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Chapter 132

No one has ever cared for me this much
As you do, do
Yeah, I need you here

— The Neighbourhood, Scary Love

. . . .

On the last day of the semester and after my last exam, I walk out of the building knowing that I aced those tests and the first half of my freshman year of university. I can't wait to get back home and tell Harry and Dad about my accomplishments.

I had been packing for the past couple of days for my month-long break before the spring semester starts at the end of January. This first semester was hair-yanking, tear-inducing, and terribly stressful with the overlapping of homework on top of finals.

Nevertheless, I made it through this week in one piece and now I'm excited to get back home to see everyone.

All of my things are in the trunk of the car since this morning, now I just have to go back to the apartment to get George so then we can leave as soon as possible. He's only been in the car once, but not for a trip as long as three hours. I'm hoping he won't get too nervous as we drive back home. The first time he was in the car he seemed fine with it, but I'm worried that the long trip will be too much for the poor thing.

After I get him from the apartment and helped him into the backseat, we start traveling back home. He whines a little bit when I went around a sharp turn, but seems okay for everything else. He has his tug toy with him to occupy him as we continue our drive.

When we finally get back to town, thick strands of garland hang over the street from each light pole. Festive wreaths are displayed in front of shop doors and white string lights are draped around picture windows. It's a scene straight out of a tacky Hallmark movie—minus the coincidental snow.

I drive past the road that leads towards Anne and Robin's side of town and further down is the school that Harry currently teaches at. Then, finally, I make the turn down our street about ten minutes later. I haven't been back here since my mental and emotional coming out party. Pulling up to the house is so nostalgic and makes me giddy and my stomach begins to fill with jittery butterflies.

Harry's black sedan is parked on the far left side of the driveway. I pull in beside his car, careful not to smash into Lilly's bike lying on its side at the top of the driveway. I see the curtains move in Lilly's bedroom window and her eyes peering out at me. The fabric quickly falls together again and roughly five seconds later, she runs out in her pajamas and some pink and purple fuzzy socks on her feet.

"Violet!"

Her arms fly in the air above her head, sprinting towards me as I get out of the car. She wraps her arms around my thighs and squeezes tightly.

"Hey, Lilly! You've gotten so tall since I last saw you. You've been eating too many vegetables. You'll be taller than your daddy in no time."

"No one's taller than him. He's taller than the house," she says childishly.

"Where's your dad?"

"Uh oh," she stares past me towards the front of the house.

"Lilly Styles!"

Her eyes flick between me and the door as Harry looks out at his underdressed daughter in this cold weather. He's holding a little pink jacket and a grimace on his face as he marches towards us and kneels down to Lilly's height.

"You know you're not allowed out here on your own. Especially since you're in your socks and without a coat. You'll freeze."

He holds onto the coat as she slides her arms through the sleeves. While she's shoving her feet into the shoes he brought out, he exhales then looks up at me and that disappointed frown flips into a welcoming, relieved smile. He returns back to his usual height and stares down at me with his beautiful green eyes.